High points of a half-century of science and engineering

People, events and ideas that changed the university

Margaret Langdon

Margaret Langdon wasn’t an “ivory tower” type of scholar. For years, the linguist moved among American Indian tribal leaders in the Southwestern United States, helping to preserve their languages.

Some of her best and most enduring contributions involved the Diegueño and Kumeyaay people on reservations in San Diego County. Langdon, a native of Belgium, created the first dictionary of Diegueño with scholars Christina Hutcheson and Ted Couro. The project enabled the tribe to expand beyond its oral history.

Langdon assisted many other Southern California tribes over the years, notably the Luiseño.

Her influence has extended across generations in another way: She served as an adviser on 17 graduate dissertations in linguistics. Her students included people who went on to become celebrated scholars.